XX-level Hokage

"Lady Mashiro, please don't mind her. The priestess has always been like this, a bit outspoken," Ashiho quickly said, afraid that the two might have misunderstood each other.

"Oh, really? I've heard that the High Priestess of the Land of Demons not only has the ability to reseal resurrected demons, but also the ability to foresee the deaths of others. I wonder how you envision my death?" Mashiro asked with interest.

“You are special. It seems you have two endings. In the first ending, you were burned to death by flames. In the second ending, you were killed by a person with red eyes,” Ziwan said in an extremely serious tone.

Hearing Ziwan's words, Zhenbai's expression became unusually serious. The first ending was being burned to death by flames. That was how she died in her previous life. So, in this second ending, could it be that she was killed by someone with red eyes in this life? Red eyes... could it be the Sharingan?

Just as Mashiro was pondering, the ghost army began to surround them again. They were immortal and coexisted with the ghosts.

"This isn't the place to talk, let's leave first." Mashiro suddenly picked up Shion and, before the path opened up by the flood could be blocked, headed away into the distance.

Seeing this, Shiho quickly followed suit and left.

Mashiro carried Aster and leaped through the woods. Soon after, they arrived at a wooden house.

"I found this on my way here. It seems the master has escaped. We can rest here for a while." Zhenbai put Shiwan down and said, "Thank you." Shiwan landed on the ground and looked at Zhenbai.

A little while later, Ashiho arrived as well. There were two rooms in the cabin.

"You two should take a break. I'm on duty tonight," Masashi said with a smile.

"Then I'll trouble you." Zu Sui said gratefully, having helped Zi Wan evade two trials; he was indeed very tired.

Ziyuan nodded to Zhenbai and went into a room. Soon, it was late at night.

Mashiro sat on the roof of the wooden house, looking at the bright moonlight.

"Can you take me up?" Ziwan appeared outside the wooden house at some point and asked.

"Aren't you asleep yet, so late?" Mashiro asked, looking down at Shiwan. Shiwan didn't answer, but quietly looked at Mashiro.

Mashiro smiled, then extended his hand to Aster. "Fang Xiang Guan Yin"

With a very slight effort, Mashiro slowly pulled Shion onto the roof, where she landed beside her. Shion remained silent. Helpless, Mashiro turned to look at the moon again, and Shion, seeing this, also looked up at the moon. "What are you thinking about?" Shion suddenly asked.

Mashiro stretched and murmured, "I wonder if there's Princess Kaguya on the moon." "Too bad there's only a Gedo Mazo and a bunch of cataracts," Mashiro added to himself.

“You’ve become very different, Zero,” Aster said, looking directly at Mashiro. Mashiro turned to look at Aster, his expression becoming deep and thoughtful.

“I guessed it. Also, you feel very familiar to me, just like in that dream. When I said you were burned to death by flames, I inexplicably felt like I had said those words before, and then I remembered that dream.” Ziwan was not afraid of Zhenbai’s gaze and spoke softly.

Mashiro's gaze became distant. Yes, in her previous life, Shiwan had said those words.

She came with Naruto and the others. After meeting Shiwan, Shiwan pronounced a death sentence on Naruto and herself. Later, because Naruto broke Shiwan's premonition, she stopped caring.

“You recognized me? What, are you looking for revenge for what I forced you to do back then?” Mashiro said, looking at Shiwan’s face.

"No, that's not it. After all, that was just me in a dream, and it has nothing to do with the real me. I was just curious about you. It's strange that one person can have two lives," Ziwan said, turning to look at the moon.

Looking at Aster's profile, Mashiro felt a momentary lapse in time. This was the first person to guess her identity based on her own efforts. [Name: Aster]

Gender: Female; Age: 16; Favorability Rating: 50

Relationship: Friends (?)

Affection Reward (90): Precognitive Power

This is the first person to have only one reward on the panel. Is it because the initial favorability is too high? Mashiro couldn't help but wonder.

“I have high hopes for you. You are someone who can control your own destiny, and I envy that. Our priestess clan has always been burdened by fate. This is not because of Qiao. Even without Qiao, there would still be Mei. Everything is in flux. I am just a drop in the tide of fate,” Ziwan said expressionlessly.

"Have you ever thought about breaking away from the role of a shrine maiden, or rather, making shrine maidenness a profession rather than a tradition?" Mashiro gently stroked Shion's hair as she spoke. Shion turned to look at Mashiro, and their eyes met. A plan was born from this moment.

Chapter Sixty-Eight: Shinra Tensei

The next morning, when Ashiho woke up and went out of her room, she saw Mashiro and Shion sitting together, talking about something. "Miya-sama, Mashiro-sama," Ashiho said respectfully as she stepped forward.

"You're awake. Let's set off then and take care of Qiaoshai," Mashiro said, then picked up Shiwan and began heading into the Land of Demons.

Ashiho originally wanted to wait until the reinforcements from other countries arrived before setting off, but seeing Mashiro carrying Shiwan away, she had no choice but to follow.

Along the way, they encountered many of Qiaoti's subordinates, all of whom were easily dealt with by Mashiro.

As for those impervious "Terracotta Warriors," although they are difficult to destroy, they can simply be buried underground using earth-遁 (earth-遁 is a technique in Chinese fantasy novels). While traveling and dealing with enemies along the way, Mashiro still managed to find time to talk to Shiwan.

Ashiho followed silently behind, watching Mashiro cleanly and efficiently take down one enemy after another, and her tense heart gradually relaxed. Mashiro was still able to keep up, but Ashiho was running out of energy.

"Lord Mashiro. Shall we find a place to rest?" The intense travel had taken its toll on his body. Mashiro looked at Shion, who nodded. Then Mashiro went to a lakeside and stopped.

"You two rest for a bit, I'll go find something to eat." Mashiro put Aster down, then turned and left.

When the tassels landed here, he only saw Shiwan. He couldn't help but ask, "My lady, where is Mashiro-sama?" "She went to find food," Shiwan said, sitting down by the tree.

"How could this be? What if there's danger?" Upon hearing this, Azusa became tense. He stood around Azusa, looking around. Sure enough, ninjas from other countries were unreliable, Azusa couldn't help but sigh.

Just then, two of their subordinates suddenly appeared, brandishing their spears and stabbing at Ziwan.

"My lady, watch out!" Ashiho immediately rushed to stop him, but only managed to block one. The other had already reached Shiwan. Just as his sharp blade was about to pierce Shiwan, a samurai sword suddenly slashed out from under the shade of a tree, cleaving the assassin in two.

"The two tails that have been following behind must be you, right? Very good. Now can you tell me where the top is?" The assassin who was blocked by the foot tassel had been captured by Mashiro at some point.

"I won't say anything," the assassin said with unusual determination, before attempting to bite his tongue and commit suicide.

But in Mashiro's eyes, everything he did was merely a struggle. "Truth Technique"

A wisp of green chakra threads emerged from Mashiro's hand and entered the assassin's head.

This is a ninjutsu used for interrogation, limited to use by two people with a huge difference in chakra levels. It can forcefully extract the information you want to know, but the person being interrogated will instantly become an idiot.

The assassin's eyes were glazed over, and he was drooling, but he still managed to utter the exact location of Qiaosha.

Having obtained the desired information, flames erupted, incinerating the assassin into ashes. "Let's go, now we know the location," Masashi said with a smile.

"Lord Mashiro, was all of this within your expectations?" Ashiho asked, somewhat surprised.

"Not really. I did go find something to eat, but I set a mousetrap before I left, and I didn't expect to actually catch a mouse," Mashiro said.

Hearing Mashiro's words, Ashiho was completely confused.

Walking up to Ziyuan, Zhenbai took out a roasted sweet potato wrapped in paper from her pocket and said, "Here, a roasted sweet potato."

"Aren't you going to eat?" Ziwan asked hesitantly, looking at the roasted sweet potato that Zhenbai offered. "I've already eaten," Zhenbai said with a smile.

Ziwan said nothing more, her gaze softened as she looked at Zhenbai, and then she took the roasted sweet potato that Zhenbai handed her and started eating. She had been busy escaping for the past few days and hadn't eaten anything for a long time.

In fact, Mashiro didn't lie this time. She really did come after eating. If she hadn't been in a hurry, she would have even wanted to buy some more fruit.

While Aster was eating, Mashiro began to ponder Aster's previous prophecy again.

"You were killed by someone with red eyes." Red eyes—was it a natural red eye like the color red? Or the Sharingan? Or something else entirely?

How are we born? How do we die? These are questions everyone is curious about. Let's ask Aster in detail after we've finished drying it.

At this moment, Aster also finished eating, and Mashiro skillfully picked her up, and the three of them continued on their way.

With the location information, Mashiro successfully found the nest of the owl as evening approached. Leaving Azusa waiting where she was, Mashiro led Aster to the nest.

The first thing they encountered was Huang Quan's four subordinates. The four of them were originally brothers and sisters, and their ninjutsu was mediocre. However, after receiving Qiaoshai's blessing, they were able to freely use the power of the four elements of ninjutsu: water, fire, earth, and wind.

The moment they saw Mashiro and Shion, the four immediately launched an attack, raining down water bullets, fireballs, earth spikes, and whirlwinds.

Mashiro held Shionrou in her arms, and with a single hand seal, summoned a gray stone wall to block the four's attack. "Earth Release: Regeneration Rock"

The gray stone wall quickly shattered under continuous attacks, but new stone walls immediately regenerated after it was broken.

Instantaneous ninjutsu, no hand seals required. These four people don't seem to have much chakra, nor do they know any advanced ninjutsu. It's as if they cast the ninjutsu out of thin air through a special method. Their chakra is just a trigger. Is this how the blessing of the sun is supposed to be? Connecting one's own chakra with these four people in some way, watching them cast the illusion technique, and then releasing it using the sun's chakra. Interesting. "Mashiro muttered to himself.

"What are you talking about?" Ziwan asked.

"It's nothing," Mashiro said, shaking her head.

At this moment, Huang Quan's four subordinates realized that ranged attacks were ineffective against Masashi and his companion. They exchanged glances, preparing for close combat. But this was exactly what Masashi was waiting for. As they approached, the stone wall suddenly vanished, and Masashi drew a "1" shape forward, instantly...

The head fell to the ground, and blood gushed out continuously.

The ability to switch between reality and illusion is very powerful, but Mashiro does not have the bloodline of the Kurama family, which means that it takes her several times longer to use this ability than Yakumo does. Moreover, Mashiro does not have a talent for drawing, so since she obtained the ability, Mashiro has only figured out this one move, but it has always been very effective against enemies.

Mashiro had a habit from her past life of not liking to show off her strength, so even though she could easily overwhelm these four people, she still used...

Even with such underhanded tactics, the four of them didn't die in vain.

Mashiro turned to look at Shion, whose face was pale; it seemed to be the first time she had witnessed such a bloody scene. Reaching out to cover Shion's eyes, Mashiro said, "Unfortunately, it's a bit too late now; you've already seen it." "Yes, but thank you anyway," Shion said, swatting Mashiro's hand away.

The two continued deeper into the lair, when the "Terracotta Warriors" army surged out from the depths, flanking them and surrounding them completely. "Oh my, I'm so envious, having an army like that," Mashiro said, looking at the steel corpses.

Previously, she would have used Fusion Release to disperse them first, and then let the Shadow Legion surround and control them, but now, Mashiro has made a better choice.

Mashiro shielded Shiwan behind her, her Byakugan transformed into the Rinnegan, and then she stretched out her arms.

"Shinra Tensei!" *Bang!*

When the smoke cleared, Qiaoti's lair had completely collapsed, and all the "Terracotta Warriors" had vanished without a trace.

Chapter Sixty-Nine: The Witch Under the Moon

"It's really powerful." Mashiro couldn't help but exclaim.

Aster looked at the shattered rocks around her, her eyes filled with shock. She looked at Mashiro and muttered to herself, "If it were her, she should be able to manage." With the destruction of the nest, Tiaoti officially made her appearance.

Possessed by Qiao, Huang Quan emerged from the depths of his lair, his body emanating a black, evil aura. He walked up to the two of them, his malevolent gaze fixed on Zi Wan, and said, "We've finally met, the current priestess."

Ziwan looked at Qiaosha with a cold gaze. The fate of her clan, including the death of her mother, was all due to this monster before her. "I will destroy you, just like my ancestors did," Ziwan said expressionlessly.

"Hahaha, with your power, your lineage of priestesses is far weaker than before, so what makes you think you can destroy me?" Qiaoshai said with a wicked smile, as countless black wisps of energy surged from its body, forming tentacles that attacked Ziwan.

Mashiro extended her hand. "Melting Release: Burial"

Flames rose from the ground, water dragons came from all directions, lightning struck from the sky, and fierce winds swept everything up, lifting and compressing boulders into a massive stone coffin. The figure of the creature was directly pulled into the coffin, and its earlier attack had long since vanished under the fierce onslaught.

Mashiro stared at the stone coffin in front of her. She didn't think Qiao would die so easily. If it were that easy, it wouldn't be rumored to have the power to destroy the ninja world.

Just then, an incredibly strong evil aura emanated from the stone coffin, which then shattered violently, revealing a huge, blackish-purple serpent with nine heads and countless tentacles. This serpent was the true form of Qiao.

Holding Ziwan, he placed her at a distance and then used the Zhenze Barrier to protect her. Zhenbai then came alone to Qiao.

"It's said you possess the power to destroy the ninja world, but now it seems you're nothing special," Mashiro provocatively remarked. "Damn ant!" Kiba roared angrily, then several tentacles pierced towards Mashiro.

This time, Mashiro didn't use any stealth techniques. After dodging several tentacles with a teleportation motion, Mashiro caught the last tentacle with her arm. "So heavy!"

This was Mashiro's first impression, and then she was sent flying backwards.

A giant soldier appeared out of thin air, caught Mashiro, and placed her on his shoulder.

Shaking her aching shoulders, Mashiro sighed, "As expected, I'm still not suited for taijutsu." Just then, the tentacles attacked again, this time twice as many as before.

Mashiro stretched out her hands and began forming hand seals, then pointed her two index fingers towards each other. "Fusion Release: Lightning Tribulation"

This was Mashiro's first time using both hands to form hand seals, and also the most serious she had ever done so.